June 16, 2006 -- MIAMI - If you read a quote by a named Pacers official or an unnamed source denying Jermaine O'Neal is being shopped, do not fall for it. Too many reliable fountains of information claim the All-Star forward is definitely available for a team's best big player, or an elite draft pick and the team's second best player.

Do not bank on the Raptors to relinquish their pick of the litter for O'Neal. In fact, don't bank on any of the top four draft picks to be traded with Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge rapidly emerging as the favorite to go No. 1, overall.

As long as I'm disregarding reports, obliterate the one that contends the Raptors are considering swapping coveted duo Charlie Villanueva and Mo Peterson for Jamal Magloire and Mo Williams. The only way Toronto takes Magloire in any deal remotely resembling that one is if the Bucks substitute T.J. Ford for Mo.

Tell you something else to discount totally that's being floated out there by wastes of space. Wizard owner Abe Pollin, back to work after a month or so of poor health, is not holding off on extending Eddie Jordan's contract in order to pounce on Larry Brown when (not if) the Knicks finally cut the umbilical cord. Washington is very pleased with how Jordan has guided the team to two straight postseasons and has every intention of retaining him past next season.

Jordan, by the way, isn't the only rising lame duck coach. Also in that position are Mike Dunleavy, Mike Fratello, Rick Carlisle, Sam Mitchell, Bob Hill, Bernie Bickerstaff, Byron Scott and George Karl, who's down for one more year, at which time Denver has a three-year option.

*

Column contributor Joe Belfiore feels it was a little tacky of commissioner David Stern to join the Heat crowd behind the basket and wave those pom-poms when the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki admittedly "short-armed" his Game 3-deciding free throw.

As mentioned previously, I cast my MVP vote for Dirk. Evidently, I think he can play a little bit. At the same time, ABC's color (uncoordinated) studio analyst Mark Jackson should have his mouth washed out with German chocolate cake for stating Dirk is better than Larry Bird. Not only would Bird have the layup that would've tied the game, underlines column contributor Kevin Heller, "he would've slipped on a blindfold and drained the winning free throw."

*

The Nuggets are prepared to trade any player on their roster exempting Carmelo Anthony. Any team can have Kenyon Martin essentially for nothing, no joke, if you classify $71 million over the next five seasons nothing . . . Orlando is looking to obtain an established off guard in case it loses DeShawn Stevenson to free agency.

With the Hawks' ownership seemingly in question, it figures to be difficult for GM Billy Knight to make a command decision such as the possible acquisition of Allen Iverson, who'd be an instant gravitational pull in the stands. He's exactly what the incredibly athletic Hawks need to improve dramatically in the standings as well. Naturally, Marvin Williams or Josh Smith would have to part of any exchange program.

*

Look for Timberwolves GM Jim Stack, a Pacers assistant under Isiah Thomas, to assume a lot of the same duties in New York when Brown leaves and the team president takes over as coach . . . The agent for Mr. Miami, "I'll sacrifice-everything-to-win-a-title-as-long-as-I'm-well-comensated-for-it," has been alerting teams client Alonzo Mourning is about to become a free agent. Shocking that ABC's hard-hitting Game 3 halftime feature on the Organ Groaner never mentioned anything like that.

*

The Lakers are looking at Kwame Brown exclusively as a center, meaning Andrew Bynum can be had. The question is, for what/ Since he has no college experience and only one unrevealing year of pro ball, nobody really knows what the New Jersey 7-footer is worth . . . If you believe the media (I never have), the Knicks have placed a gag order on Next Town Brown - a natural progression from the gag season he placed on the rest of us.

peter.vecsey@nypost.com

indygeezer

06-16-2006, 08:27 AM

The headline here is wrong, I guess. Whoever wrote the headline needs to read the article

June 16, 2006 -- MIAMI - If you read a quote by a named Pacers official or an unnamed source denying Jermaine O'Neal is being shopped, do not fall for it. Too many reliable fountains of information claim the All-Star forward is definitely available for a team's best big player, or an elite draft pick and the team's second best player.

Do not bank on the Raptors to relinquish their pick of the litter for O'Neal. In fact, don't bank on any of the top four draft picks to be traded with Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge rapidly emerging as the favorite to go No. 1, overall.

As long as I'm disregarding reports, obliterate the one that contends the Raptors are considering swapping coveted duo Charlie Villanueva and Mo Peterson for Jamal Magloire and Mo Williams. The only way Toronto takes Magloire in any deal remotely resembling that one is if the Bucks substitute T.J. Ford for Mo.

Tell you something else to discount totally that's being floated out there by wastes of space. Wizard owner Abe Pollin, back to work after a month or so of poor health, is not holding off on extending Eddie Jordan's contract in order to pounce on Larry Brown when (not if) the Knicks finally cut the umbilical cord. Washington is very pleased with how Jordan has guided the team to two straight postseasons and has every intention of retaining him past next season.

Jordan, by the way, isn't the only rising lame duck coach. Also in that position are Mike Dunleavy, Mike Fratello, Rick Carlisle, Sam Mitchell, Bob Hill, Bernie Bickerstaff, Byron Scott and George Karl, who's down for one more year, at which time Denver has a three-year option.

*

Column contributor Joe Belfiore feels it was a little tacky of commissioner David Stern to join the Heat crowd behind the basket and wave those pom-poms when the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki admittedly "short-armed" his Game 3-deciding free throw.

As mentioned previously, I cast my MVP vote for Dirk. Evidently, I think he can play a little bit. At the same time, ABC's color (uncoordinated) studio analyst Mark Jackson should have his mouth washed out with German chocolate cake for stating Dirk is better than Larry Bird. Not only would Bird have the layup that would've tied the game, underlines column contributor Kevin Heller, "he would've slipped on a blindfold and drained the winning free throw."

*

The Nuggets are prepared to trade any player on their roster exempting Carmelo Anthony. Any team can have Kenyon Martin essentially for nothing, no joke, if you classify $71 million over the next five seasons nothing . . . Orlando is looking to obtain an established off guard in case it loses DeShawn Stevenson to free agency.

With the Hawks' ownership seemingly in question, it figures to be difficult for GM Billy Knight to make a command decision such as the possible acquisition of Allen Iverson, who'd be an instant gravitational pull in the stands. He's exactly what the incredibly athletic Hawks need to improve dramatically in the standings as well. Naturally, Marvin Williams or Josh Smith would have to part of any exchange program.

*

Look for Timberwolves GM Jim Stack, a Pacers assistant under Isiah Thomas, to assume a lot of the same duties in New York when Brown leaves and the team president takes over as coach . . . The agent for Mr. Miami, "I'll sacrifice-everything-to-win-a-title-as-long-as-I'm-well-comensated-for-it," has been alerting teams client Alonzo Mourning is about to become a free agent. Shocking that ABC's hard-hitting Game 3 halftime feature on the Organ Groaner never mentioned anything like that.

*

The Lakers are looking at Kwame Brown exclusively as a center, meaning Andrew Bynum can be had. The question is, for what/ Since he has no college experience and only one unrevealing year of pro ball, nobody really knows what the New Jersey 7-footer is worth . . . If you believe the media (I never have), the Knicks have placed a gag order on Next Town Brown - a natural progression from the gag season he placed on the rest of us.

peter.vecsey@nypost.com

Decipher that bolded area please.

and if he did that, Der Fuhrer should be fired immediately. Any impression of favoritism, etc etc.

Shade

06-16-2006, 09:22 AM

I absolutely hate Vecsey's writing. It always such a messy collaboration of quips that it's difficult to decipher.

And as for the bit about Stern, if that's actually true... :shakehead

Jon Theodore

06-16-2006, 09:54 AM

Peter Vecsey is my dad

Doug

06-16-2006, 09:55 AM

I don't believe anything I read in the press this time of year.

Versey does seem to get inside info on the Pacers.

But that doesn't mean it's true.

Even if it came from DW, this could just be their way of generating more phone traffic and offers for other players. Ye ol' bait-and-switch.

And who knows, you might even get somebody offering something you'd take - KG.

Multiple people on here have mentioned it before, but there is no "superstar" in this draft - nobody who has a great certainty of being better than JO.

But I'm looking at things on talent and not looking at JOs salary. But I honestly don't think that bothers them. I'm sure they considered that JO might be here for his whole contract.

Fool

06-16-2006, 10:02 AM

Maybe its supposed to be, "No way, Jermaine's on the Block."

NuffSaid

06-16-2006, 10:22 AM

Obviously, Peter Vescey hasn't viewed the WISH-TV (Ch-8) interview (http://www.pacersdigest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21723) they did w/JO discussing these co-called trade rumors involving him. Talk about a reporter being completely out of the loop.:rolleyes:

Shade

06-16-2006, 10:23 AM

Obviously, Peter Vescey hasn't viewed the WISH-TV (Ch-8) interview (http://www.pacersdigest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21723) they did w/JO discussing these co-called trade rumors involving him. Talk about a reporter being completely out of the loop.:rolleyes:

I just wish all of these JO trade rumors would stop. I'd say the chances of us dealing JO are about < 10%.

What we need to do is focus on upgrading the rest of the roster, particularly the starting C and SG positions.

Bball

06-16-2006, 10:28 AM

I'm assuming the quip about Stern was a bit of a gag... implying Stern wanted Dirk to miss to extend this series and get Miami back in it to keep the ratings up and more games to be played.

-Bball

Obviously, Peter Vescey hasn't viewed the WISH-TV (Ch-8) interview (http://www.pacersdigest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21723) they did w/JO discussing these co-called trade rumors involving him. Talk about a reporter being completely out of the loop.:rolleyes:

That's more like a player being out of the loop... No way would I ever expect a player to have the final say or knowledge in whether he was being shopped or not.

Is there a fire sale for JO? I'd think not...

Should the Pacers be seeing what someone wants to offer for JO? I'd hope they are...

-Bball

BigDawg44

06-16-2006, 11:11 AM

so....andrew Bynum is available??? maybe send Tinsley in a package to get bynum. not gonna go into detail on the trade, because i dont feel like it. but very interesting. i know we have harrison and bynum could be a project like harrison, but those are 2 very big bodies. and we had those on the team. haha think about a front court of Bynum and Harrison. if they ever got in the game at the same time....not much driving to the basket on the opposing teams part.

Anthem

06-16-2006, 11:21 AM

so....andrew Bynum is available??? maybe send Tinsley in a package to get bynum. not gonna go into detail on the trade, because i dont feel like it. but very interesting. i know we have harrison and bynum could be a project like harrison, but those are 2 very big bodies. and we had those on the team. haha think about a front court of Bynum and Harrison. if they ever got in the game at the same time....not much driving to the basket on the opposing teams part.
If Bynum's available, you're not going to get him for Tinsley.

Not that I wouldn't love to have Bynum.

DisplacedKnick

06-16-2006, 11:26 AM

Obviously, Peter Vescey hasn't viewed the WISH-TV (Ch-8) interview (http://www.pacersdigest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21723) they did w/JO discussing these co-called trade rumors involving him. Talk about a reporter being completely out of the loop.:rolleyes:

I didn't see that - so JO thinks he'll be traded?

grace

06-16-2006, 11:43 AM

Unless someone has video evidence of Stern cheering with the Miami fans I don't believe it. He's not that stupid. Is he?

On the chance it is true we'll never know thanks to the power of the almighty Commish. :mib:

Robertmto

06-16-2006, 11:54 AM

Of course we want to extend Ediie Jordan's contract, he got us into th eplayoffs, twice. Who said we wanted Larry Brown? He'll turn us in to the Knicks, or did Isaiah do that? MJ did that to us a while back...i'm rambling...

Will Galen

06-16-2006, 12:10 PM

Of course we want to extend Ediie Jordan's contract, he got us into th eplayoffs, twice. Who said we wanted Larry Brown? He'll turn us in to the Knicks, or did Isaiah do that? MJ did that to us a while back...i'm rambling...

Rambling? I thought you were giving a Peter Vecsey quote.

PacerFan31

06-16-2006, 12:41 PM

The fact of the matter is JO is being shopped. It's the NBA, every player is able to be traded, and anyone who thinks otherwise just because the player went on local TV and said he wasn't isn't using their head.

Young

06-16-2006, 04:38 PM

Here is my question, is JO just avaliable if we get a good offer or is Bird really shopping JO, as in shopping him until he gets a deal he likes?

Will Galen

06-16-2006, 04:38 PM

Who really knows what to believe? However, we know the Pacers aren't going to have a fire sale. It will be interesting to see what really happens this off season.

pizza guy

06-16-2006, 05:51 PM

What can we give up for Bynum? I'd really like to have him here.

Skaut_Ech

06-16-2006, 05:59 PM

Here's the way I see it.

Jermaine is being shopped.

But he's really not.

What do I mean?

I think the organization is in a pressure/psuedo panic mode. I'll compare it to three incidents. The jalen/Travis trade that brought us Ron and co., the time we traded Jackson for Rose and the reacquiring of Jackson. In each of those trades, management got truly spooked. I think for the first time in a while, management is afriad they are going to lose a big part of their fan base.

I thinki they ARE shopping Jermiane as part of a bait and switch. See what you might get for Jermaine, then turn the talk to a lesser player, or pair of them such as a Jackson/Harrison combo, etc.

I would suspect that it's a lot easier to get a dialogue started by calling to offer Jermaine, than it is to offer a malcontent (Jackson) or a china doll (Tinsley). I think doug is spot on in his thinking.

And geezer?

Jordan, by the way, isn't the only rising lame duck coach. Also in that position are Mike Dunleavy, Mike Fratello, Rick Carlisle, Sam Mitchell, Bob Hill, Bernie Bickerstaff, Byron Scott and George Karl, who's down for one more year, at which time Denver has a three-year option.

You were asking for someone to decipher? I think it means that Carlisle is being kept on, yet, hasn't been offered a contract extention. Are they waiting to see what the roster will look like, then go after a more compatible coach? I think some of the teams mentioned have coaches with one more year left and the team doesn't have a strong direction they're working towards. That's silly to call Dunleavy and Karl lame ducks, though. Karl has provided a lot of his players with a certain comfort level and he has a specific direction. Dunleavy just put the Clipper son the map. How is he a lame-duck? That's my take.

bulldog

06-16-2006, 06:02 PM

What can we give up for Bynum? I'd really like to have him here.

Sign and trade Freddie? Or, if Peja's gonna leave for sure, sign and trade him? But I don't know how we'd get the salaries to work, unfortunately Devean George's contract has expired and is no longer useable in a trade.

AJ for Bynum works straight up, but IMHO, not worth it unless we trade JO and we're rebuilding so they throw in a few picks. I'm sure they'd take it, they need a solid PG that can take some scoring pressure off Kobe while still running the offense and getting him the ball.

BigDawg44

06-16-2006, 06:06 PM

If Bynum's available, you're not going to get him for Tinsley.

Not that I wouldn't love to have Bynum.

i realize that, i was just too lazy to think of a package deal but i figured LA would like Tinsley since all they have right now is Smush Parker. so tinsley could be PART of the deal not the whole thing. maybe somethin like Foster. or the freddie idea was thrown out there

Lord Helmet

06-16-2006, 06:07 PM

I agree with Shade, I wish all these rumors would stop. I mean, I'm not taking this article serious.

It just gets the hopes up of all the people who wish JO was gone.

indytoad

06-16-2006, 08:07 PM

What can we give up for Bynum? I'd really like to have him here.

JO, probably. Don't think they'd bite though.

IndyToad
Staying healthy

Anthem

06-16-2006, 09:30 PM

AJ for Bynum works straight up, but IMHO, not worth it unless we trade JO and we're rebuilding so they throw in a few picks. I'm sure they'd take it, they need a solid PG that can take some scoring pressure off Kobe while still running the offense and getting him the ball.
You're kidding.

The Pacers would take that in a second. The Lakers would mock us forever if we offered that. Freddy, Tinsley, AJ, Foster? They wouldn't trade Bynum for all of those guys together.

EDIT: Ok, if you want Bynum and don't want to give up Granger, would you do: Jermaine O'Neal and Anthony Johnson for Andrew Bynum, Brian Cook, Sasha Vujacic, Lamar Odom, and the Laker's pick?

Jermaniac

06-16-2006, 10:19 PM

JO, probably. Don't think they'd bite though.

IndyToad
Staying healthyYou should stick to watching Ducktales and not basketball its not your thing. Maybe next time though Hermit.

Young

06-17-2006, 12:38 AM

i realize that, i was just too lazy to think of a package deal but i figured LA would like Tinsley since all they have right now is Smush Parker. so tinsley could be PART of the deal not the whole thing. maybe somethin like Foster. or the freddie idea was thrown out there

Tinsley isn't a point guard that would interest LA. He doesn't fit into the triangle offense that well. I read they have interest in getting Brandon Roy and using him as their point guard.

As for Andrew Bynum, I think there are only one way LA would give us Bynum and that is with them getting JO. They would probably give us Briant Grant and Bynum. They might give us Sasha Vujacic or Brian Cook if they are feeling generous. I couldn't see them taking anything else for Bynum, not even Danny Granger considering they could have drafted Danny over Bynum last year.

microwave_oven

06-17-2006, 02:01 AM

Didn't the Zen Master actually want Granger?

Robertmto

06-17-2006, 02:09 AM

Didn't the Zen Master actually want Granger?

Offering him will get u killed here.

CableKC

06-17-2006, 02:32 AM

If the Magic want an established SG.....I would offer them SJax for Hedo + filler + the 11th pick.

Just because JONeal isn't being shopped doesn't mean that Walsh/Bird isn't listening to any offers.

What's the liklihood that he will be moved? Probably minimal.....considering the likely high price that GMs know that Walsh/Bird has set for him.

But if some stupid GM comes along....and the right offer comes along.....that meets their high price....then I can see JONeal be traded.

larry

06-17-2006, 07:44 AM

Mark Jackson didn't say that Dirk was better than Bird.
He did say Dirk had the ability to be better than Bird.
I thought what Jackson said was BS anyway, but to his credit he didn't say Dirk is better than Larry bird ever was.
I like Dirk's game as much as anyone, but he is already to old to catch up w/ Bird imo.

BlueNGold

06-17-2006, 08:19 AM

Mark Jackson didn't say that Dirk was better than Bird.
He did say Dirk had the ability to be better than Bird.
I thought what Jackson said was BS anyway, but to his credit he didn't say Dirk is better than Larry bird ever was.
I like Dirk's game as much as anyone, but he is already to old to catch up w/ Bird imo.

The big difference is that Dirk does not make the players around him better to the extent that Bird did. In fact, if you could get past their blond hair, their games are really not that similar.

For example, shooting was a big part of Larry's game, but more important to his team's success were intangibles like seeing the floor well, great fundamentals, unbelievable passing ability, strong leadership and extreme competitiveness. Also, Larry did not have the "soft" label because he was physically and mentally tough when he needed to be. These are all reasons why Larry has multiple rings and Dirk will not.

Kegboy

06-17-2006, 08:02 PM

Actually, on Dan's radio show, Mark said Dirk will be better than Bird. Not can, will. Just like he said that Kobe's better than MJ, Grant Hill was better than Dr. J, and Avery Johnson is a better coach than Pat Riley. He also said he could beat Reggie in a 100-yard dash. Reggie and Dan agreed Mark needs to lay off the drugs.

JayRedd

06-19-2006, 02:57 PM

Also, Larry did not have the "soft" label because he was physically and mentally tough when he needed to be.

He also choked Dr. J. And once you do something that would get the average citizen arrested to the biggest star in the NBA on national television, that tends to suggest you're not "soft".